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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to complain after a salon dyed my hair hot pink?

12 replies

AliceH11 · 12/05/2026 18:33

Hey guys,

Just a quick one so I know I am not crazy,

I went to the hairdressers last week with blonde hair. I asked for blonde highlights with dark red underneath.

Now, the red I asked for was a dark cherry red. I had a consultation and the hairdresser seemed excused to do it and said she can do it for me. I have seen this stylist before and was happy with the result.

I go last week and I get a full head of highlights. This is then washed out and she goes to mix the red. When she was mixing it did seem a bit pink but it was a cherry red I asked for so I didnt think anything of it as I am not a hairdresser. It turns hot pink and I basically say I wanted it more red it’s too pink and she agrees. She then goes to speak to the owner and she told her to do a red wash? I don’t know what that means but it didint do anything.

Keep in mind the owner knows what’s happening, can see it but does not approach me herself. I ask the stylist can I come back and get it fixed to the cherry red I wanted and she didn’t give me a straight answer, she said try and fade it then we will go from there. I also made it clear I was not going to pay again. I made a comment about how lovely the cut was and the stylist even joked at least we got one thing right. I am a laid back person so I just said these things happen as long as I can get it fixed I am happy

It’s now a week later and I called to tell them I have washed it a few times to fade it and I want to book in to have it more red like I asked. The receptionist said he will call me back, 2 min later I had the owner on the phone with a condescending attitude telling me that their reds are intense and this has never happened before. She then said was it a pink based red that I wanted and I just said it was a cherry red, so then she said well you agreed then. I said I agreed to a dark cherry red not a hot pink…..I said I am not a hairdresser and it should have been explained that it can go pink and she said well we couldn’t have pre warned you because it’s never happened before. She started raising her voice a bit.

We were going back and forth, they rebooked it in and said they cannot grantee it won’t still be pink. I rebooked but then cancelled as I feel the relationship is tarnished with the manner she spoke to me and I am going elsewhere, I said I am the client and this is not my fault. She is now sending me a more frantic voicemail asking me to call her back. Has anyone else had this before and AIBU to have complained and kicked up a bit of a fuss? I paid in full but didn’t tip, I paid on the understanding it would have been fixed without a nasty attitude

Thank u

OP posts:
AliceH11 · 12/05/2026 18:33

Excited not Excused

OP posts:
BettyCrockersLocker · 12/05/2026 18:38

Yanbu. I asked for purple once and it was most definitely more of a burgundy. Needless to say I never went back. It was my first time having my hair coloured too

Decacaffeinatednow · 12/05/2026 18:39

Pic?

Bridgertonisbest · 12/05/2026 18:43

Many years ago I went a bit darker than my usual colour. The hair stylist gave me exactly what I asked for but I hated it. As soon as they reopened after the weekend I was on the phone telling them I was really sorry but I’d made a mistake but I hated the darker colour.

The stylist fitted me in either that day or the next and put it back to my usual blonde. I was fully expecting to pay as they’d done what I asked for but there was no charge.

THATS how you deal with a customer.

Twasasurprise · 12/05/2026 18:51

What are you expecting/ hoping to happen next? Just move on now that you won't let them attempt a fix? You weren't wrong to complain BTW.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 12/05/2026 18:53

Hard to say without a picture

Birdsongisangry · 12/05/2026 19:03

I've had cherry red over lightened hair many times and it always fades to a hot, almost neon, pink any time I've had it, regardless of the colour/brand used. They do have to make it quite a lot darker to start for that reason, but they were very naive to suggest that it doesn't happen/they weren't expecting it to happen, because even if they got it right in the salon it would change to that colour after a few washes (assuming your using a fashion colour and not a permanent red, as those arent nearly as bright)

namechangedforthispo · 13/05/2026 06:24

Show us a pic op. I’ve been cherry red for a few years when I was younger, not sure how they got hot pink on you but if that’s not what you wanted you are well within your right to complain. It does fade to pink but that’s with washing it a few times.

Left · 13/05/2026 06:42

Did the salon confirm the colour with a colour chip?

TheBeaTgoeson1 · 13/05/2026 08:30

Pic?

hahabahbag · 13/05/2026 08:43

Cherry red is quite pink on blonde hair - if they did what you asked, cherry red, and that’s how it looks on your hair then it isn’t actually the salons fault. I know my hair looks lighter than any colour, not that I colour anymore

Candleabra · 13/05/2026 08:52

hahabahbag · 13/05/2026 08:43

Cherry red is quite pink on blonde hair - if they did what you asked, cherry red, and that’s how it looks on your hair then it isn’t actually the salons fault. I know my hair looks lighter than any colour, not that I colour anymore

But then shouldn’t they have said, well actually that colour isn’t going to give the results you want?

I wonder, did you say you want the end result to be cherry red, or is cherry red the name of a shade they applied to your hair and they shrugged and said that’s how it looks on your hair?
(Either way, definitely a lack of communication and clarification from the hairdresser)

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